ZATSUYOSEN!
(HAKKAISAN MARU, sistership of KINSEN MARU prewar)
IJN KINSEN MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement
© 2012 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
10 November 1936:
Aioi. Laid down by Harima Steel K.K. Zosensho shipyard for
Chosen Yusen K.K. as a 3,081-ton cargo ship.
27 February 1937:
Launched and named KINSEN MARU.
15 April 1937:
Completed and registered in Jinsen, Chosen (now Incheon, South Korea).
26 November 1941:
Requisitioned by the IJN.
7 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo and arrives later in the day at
Chinkai, Chosen (now Jinhae, South Korea).
10 December 1941:
Departs Chinkai and arrives later that same day at
Sasebo. That same day registered in the IJN as an auxiliary transport, (Otsu) category, and attached to the Sasebo Naval District with Sasebo as homeport under internal order No. 1634. [1]
E 10-11 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
11 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinkai. Departs later in the day for
Sasebo.
12 December 1941:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 December 1941:
Departs Sasebo.
17 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinkai.
18 December 1941:
Departs Chinkai.
19 December 1941:
Arrives at Gensan, Chosen.
23 December 1941:
Departs Gensan.
26 December 1941:
Arrives at Chinkai. Transfers later that day to Sasebo.
31 December 1941:
Attached to the Chinkai Naval District Guard Force under Chinkai Naval District secret instruction No. 28.
6 January 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
10 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao, Formosa (now Kaohsiung, Taiwan).
14 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
19 January 1942:
Arrives at Davao, Mindanao.
20 January 1942:
Departs Davao.
26 January 1942:
Arrives at Takao.
29 January 1942:
Departs Takao.
2 February 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
4 February 1942:
Assigned to a transport mission of personnel and
supplies under Sasebo Naval District secret order No. 67.
11 February 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
15 February 1942:
Arrives at Mako, Pescadores.
17 February 1942:
Departs Mako.
20 February 1942:
Arrives at Samah, Hainan Island, China.
27 February 1942:
Transfers to Yulin, Hainan.
2 March 1942:
Departs Yulin.
6 March 1942:
Arrives at Mako.
9 March 1942:
Departs Mako.
13 March 1942:
Arrives at Yawata, Fukuoka Prefecture.
18 March 1942:
Departs Yawata.
19 March 1942:
Arrives at Nagasaki.
20 March 1942:
Departs Nagasaki. Assigned that same day to a
transport mission of personnel and supplies under Sasebo Naval District secret
order No. 154.
21 March 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
25 March 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
26 March 1942:
Arrives at Chinkai.
28 March 1942:
Transfers to Busan, Chosen (now Pusan, South Korea).
1 April 1942:
Departs Busan.
4 April 1942:
Arrives at Ryojun, (ex Port-Arthur), Manchuria, (now Lushun, China).
6 April 1942:
Departs Ryojun.
8 April 1942:
Arrives at Seito (Tsingtao), China.
10 April 1942:
Attached again to the Sasebo Naval District.
11 April 1942:
Departs Seito.
14 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.
16 April 1942:
Departs Sasebo.
17 April 1942:
Arrives at Tomita (now Tonda), Yamaguchi Prefecture.
18 April 1942:
Departs Tomita.
19 April 1942:
Arrives at Saitozaki.
24 April 1942:
Departs Saitozaki.
26 April 1942:
Arrives at Maizuru. Unloads about 3,300-tons of Type 3 ammunition.
30 April 1942:
Departs Maizuru.
2 May 1942:
Arrives at Saitozaki.
8 May 1942:
Departs Saitozaki.
10 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
12 May 1942:
Transfers to Tokyo.
14 May 1942:
Departs Tokyo in an unnumbered northbound convoy also
consisting of IJA transport UGO MARU, civilian (C-AK) IBURI MARU and auxiliary
aircraft transport KATSURAGI MARU escorted by hydrographic survey ship
KOMAHASHI. Later that day, near Katsuura KOMAHASHI detaches and returns to Yokosuka.
15 May 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one 7.7 mm MG Type 92 and
five Arisaka rifles Type 38, under Navy confidential order No. 5990.
17 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato, Aomori Prefecture.
19 May 1942:
Transfers to Hakodate, Hokkaido.
20 May 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
21 May 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido.
24 May 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro-To, Kuriles.
12 June 1942:
Scheduled to be fitted with one 8-cm/40 Type 88 gun under Navy confidential order No. 7246.
21 June 1942:
Departs Paramushiro-To.
22 June 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To, Kuriles (now Ostrov Matua).
Departs later that same day for Muroran, Hokkaido.
25 June 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
26 June 1942:
Departs Muroran.
29 June 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
3 July 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
6 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
8 July 1942:
Departs Ominato.
9 July 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro, Hokkaido.
12 July 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
15 July 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
23 July 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
26 July 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
27 July 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
28 July 1942:
Arrives at Ominato.
30 July 1942:
Transfers to Hakodate.
1 August 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
3 August 1942:
Arrives at Odomari, Mie Prefecture.
7 August 1942:
Departs Odomari.
9 August 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
12 August 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
13 August 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
15 August 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
16 August 1942:
Arrives at Tennei, Etorofu-To, Kuriles (now Burevestnik, Iturup).
19 August 1942:
Departs Tennei.
21 August 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
28 August 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
29 August 1942:
Arrives at Paramushiro-To.
10 September 1942:
Departs Paramushiro-To.
12 September 1942:
Arrives at Tennei.
14 September 1942:
Departs Tennei.
15 September 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
16 September 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
17 September 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
21 September 1942:
Transfers to Ominato.
24 September 1942:
Transfers to Hakodate.
27 September 1942:
Departs Hakodate.
29 September 1942:
Arrives at Tennei.
2 October 1942:
Departs Tennei.
4 October 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
15 October 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
16 October 1942:
Arrives at Musashi Wan (Bay), Paramushiro-To.
18 October 1942:
Hit by a dud torpedo launched by an unidentified
submarine. No damage is sustained. [2]
26 October 1942:
Departs Musashi Wan.
27 October 1942:
Arrives at Kashiwabara Wan, Paramushiro-To.
29 October 1942:
Transfers to Musashi Wan.
1 November 1942:
Transfers to Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro-To. Departs later in the day for Kushiro.
5 November 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
7 November 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
10 November 1942:
Arrives at Matsuwa-To.
13 November 1942:
Departs Matsuwa-To.
14 November 1942:
Arrives at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro-To.
15 November 1942:
Transfers to Kashiwabara Wan.
22 November 1942:
Transfers to Suribachi Wan and arrives there at
1000. Departs later that same day at 2200 for Kushiro.
27 November 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
28 November 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
30 November 1942:
Arrives at Hakodate.
1 December 1942:
Transfers to Ominato.
7 December 1942:
Departs Ominato.
8 December 1942:
Arrives at Kushiro.
18 December 1942:
Departs Kushiro.
19 December 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
20 December 1942:
Departs Muroran.
23 December 1942:
Arrives at Tokyo.
27 December 1942:
Departs Tokyo.
28 December 1942:
At 1230 departs from off Futtsu (near entrance to
Tokyo Bay) in North Convoy No. 78 also consisting of training ship TAISEI (2523
GRT) MARU and IJA transport GOZAN MARU escorted by destroyer NAMIKAZE.
30 December 1942:
Arrives at Muroran.
1 January 1943:
Departs Muroran.
8 January 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
E 9-20 January 1943:
Docks at shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
21 January 1943:
Departs Osaka.
22 January 1943:
Arrives at Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
24 January 1943:
Departs Shimonoseki.
25 January 1943:
Arrives off Wada-Misaki coast.
26 January 1943:
Departs Wada-Misaki coast.
27 January 1943:
Arrives at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
31 January 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
3 February 1943:
Arrives at Shimonoseki. Departs later in the day for
Dairen, Manchuria (Now Dalian, China).
6 February 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
9 February 1943:
Departs Dairen.
15 February 1943:
Arrives at Muroran.
21 February 1943:
Departs Muroran in convoy No. 2221 also consisting
of requisitioned (B-AK) JUZAN MARU, IJA transports SHINFUKU, HOKURYU and FRANCE
MARUs, civilian passenger/cargo ATAKA (ex Italian ADA) and civilian (C-AK) BANEI
MARU No. 2 escorted by auxiliary gunboat HIYOSHI MARU No. 2 GO.
24 February 1943:
Arrives at Tokyo.
27 February 1943:
Departs Tokyo.
2 March 1943:
Arrives at Kushiro.
6 March 1943:
Departs Kushiro.
11 March 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
14 March 1943:
Departs Osaka.
16 March 1943:
Arrives at Miike, Fukuoka Prefecture.
18 March 1943:
Departs Miike.
19 March 1943:
Arrives at Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture.
23 March 1943:
Departs Tsukumi.
24 March 1943:
Arrives at Moji.
28 March 1943:
Departs Moji.
3 April 1943:
Arrives at Dairen.
7 April 1943:
Departs Dairen.
11 April 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
14 April 1943:
Transfers to Kobe.
16 April 1943:
Departs Kobe.
17 April 1943:
Arrives at Moji. Departs later that day for Chinnampo, Chosen (now North Korea).
22 April 1943:
Arrives at Chinnampo.
27 April 1943:
Departs Chinnampo.
30 April 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
12 May 1943:
Departs Kure.
13 May 1943:
Arrives at Osaka.
18 May 1943:
Departs Osaka.
20 May 1943:
Arrives off Kawasaki coast.
21 May 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama.
25 May 1943:
Departs Yokohama.
28 May 1943:
Arrives at Sakito.
29 May 1943:
Transfers to Sasebo.
5 June 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
6 June 1943:
Arrives at Saeki, Kyushu.
9 June 1943:
At 0900, departs Saeki for Palau, Western Carolines, in
convoy O-905 also consisting of IJA transports DAKAR, TOHO, CHINZEI and BUNZAN
MARUs escorted by torpedo boat HATO, kaibokan IKI and minesweepers W-17 and W-18.
E 11 June 1943:
W-18 is detached at latitude 29N and returns to Japan.
17 June 1943:
Arrives at Palau.
27 June 1943:
Departs Palau in convoy also consisting of IJA
transports DAKAR, TOHO, CHINZEI and BUNZAN MARUs with unknown escort.
3 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul, New Britain.
7 July 1943:
Departs Rabaul.
8 July 1943:
Arrives at Buin, Bougainville Island, Solomons.
11 July 1943:
Departs Buin.
13 July 1943:
Arrives at Rabaul.
22 July 1943:
Departs Rabaul for Wake Island in convoy No. 2323 also consisting of IJA transport THAMES MARU and possibly other merchant ships with unknown escort.
25 July 1943:
About 240nm N of Manus Island, Admiralties. LtCdr Earl
C. Hawk’s (USNA ’28) USS POMPON (SS-267) intercepts the convoy. At 1755, Hawk
fires a spread of torpedoes and hits THAMES and KINSEN MARUs. The IJA transport,
hit by two torpedoes amidships in No. 4 hold catches fire and is further hit by
a third torpedo that causes her to break in two. At 1811, she sinks at 02-46N,
148-35E taking down four of her crew and two gunners. KINSEN MARU is hit at the
same position by two torpedoes in hold No.1 and No. 2. Her bow blown off, she
stops and settles. 39 men are KIA.
27 July 1943:
Auxiliary gunboat CHOAN MARU No. 2 GO arrives in the
area to assist KINSEN MARU. The heavily damaged transport in towed towards Truk,
Central Carolines.
31 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
E August-October 1943:
Undergoes emergency repairs to her damaged
hull’s fourth bulkhead.
14 October 1943:
At 0630, departs Truk via north channel for Yokosuka
in convoy No. 4014B also consisting of auxiliary transport YAMAFUKU MARU, IJN
requisitioned (B-AK) HEIWA and TATSUURA MARUs, escorted by auxiliary gunboats
CHOKO MARU No. 2 Go and CHOUN MARU.
24 October 1943:
The convoy arrives safely at Yokosuka.
26 October 1943:
Transfers to Yokohama. That same day, docks at
Nippon Kokan K.K. Asano shipyard for extensive repairs.
1 December 1943:
Undocked.
E December 1943:
Waiting for additional extensive repairs.
6 December 1943:
Scheduled to be fitted with a hydrophone under
Navy’s secret instruction No. 6083.
25 May 1944:
Docks at Nippon Kokan K.K. Asano shipyard for front hull and bow deck repairs.
12 June 1944:
Repairs are completed. Undocked.
16 June 1944:
Departs Yokohama.
19 June 1944:
Arrives at Kure.
21 June 1944:
Departs Kure.
23 October 1944:
Arrives at Sasebo. Probably fitted with one twin Type 96 25mm gun and one single Type 96 25mm gun.
3 November 1944:
Departs Sasebo and joins convoy MI-25 that departed
earlier that day for Miri, Borneo, consisting of KACHOSAN, ATAGO, NIKKO,
DAIRETSU, DAIA, DAITO, RYUSHO, GYOSHIN, AKAGISAN, OTSUSAN, NICHIYO, KENSEI,
HINAGA, YAMAMURA, TATSUTAMA, DAISHU, DAIEI, OJIKASAN and SHOEI MARUs and YUZAN
MARU No. 2 and one unidentified merchant ship escorted by kaibokan CD-23, CD-33, CD-51, CD-52 and CD-130.
E November 1944:
Hit by a bomb during an US airstrike that causes a cargo explosion.
8 November 1944:
DAIA, KINSEN, NIKKO MARUs and NIKKO MARUs are
detached for Kirun (Keelung), Formosa. AKAGISAN and NICHIYO MARUs, both destined
for Manila, are also detached for Kirun. KACHOSAN MARU, destined for Hong Kong,
is also detached for Kirun and Takao, as are two unidentified ships.
E 9-23 November 1944:
Undergoes emergency repairs.
24 November 1944:
Repairs are completed.
5 February 1945:
At 0700, departs Moji for Hong Kong in convoy
MOHO-02 also consisting of requisitioned (B-AK) MIHO MARU, IJA transport PEKING
MARU and IJA shared (A/C-AK) BANSEI MARUs escorted by kaibokan CD-40 and CD-69
and subchaser CH-21. The company sails past Tsushima, up the Chosen coast to
Jinsen (Inchon) and then on to Seito (Tsingtao) before hugging the China coast south.
9 February 1945:
At 1915, anchors at Chusan (Shoushan) Island, China.
10 February 1945:
Departs the anchorage. Later briefly anchors off Amoy.
14 February 1945:
At 1100, arrives at Hong Kong. [3]
17 March 1945:
At Kobe. Fires 300 25mm shells against attacking aircraft.
19 March 1945:
Moored at buoy No. 3, Kure naval port. Fires 500 25mm shells against attacking aircraft.
7 April 1945:
In convoy MOSHI-03 consisting of KINSEN MARU as only
merchant ship. Distant cover is provided by kaibokan CD-63 and CD-207.
25 April 1945:
Departs Sijiao Island (Shishiyosan or Ssu Chiao Shan),
Shengsi Archipelago, China for Moji in convoy SHIMO-02 also consisting of
auxiliary transport (ex Seaplane tender) KIYOKAWA MARU escorted by kaibokan
CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52.
E 28 April 1945:
Tsushima Strait. Kaibokan CD-34 joins the escort of convoy SHIMO-02.
29 April 1945:
At 0720, CD-32 is detached from the convoy. At 1430, the convoy arrives at Moji.
6 May 1945:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Imari, Saga Prefecture, later that same day.
7 May 1945:
Departs Imari.
3 June 1945:
Departs Sasebo and arrives at Sakito later that day.
4 June 1945:
Transfers to Yobuko, Saga Prefecture.
30 June 1945:
Removed from the Navy’s list under internal order No.
577. That same day, KINSEN MARU is derequisitioned and released to her owners under secret instruction No. 610-14.
15 August 1945:
End of the hostilities. That same day, the Shipping
Control Authority for the Japanese Merchant Marine (SCAJAP) allots number K-052
to KINSEN MARU.
1 February 1946:
The U.S. Naval Technical Mission to Japan’s Official Report states KINSEN MARU as being in “Korean Use”.
1946:
Allocated by Korean Government to Korea Steamship Company, Inchon, renamed KUMCHON.
1953:
The Korea Steamship Company is reconstituted as Korea Shipping
Corporation, Inchon, renamed GUM CZON.
1962:
Renamed BAN DO.
1976:
Broken up.
Authors Notes:
[1] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category
with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
[2] The submarine is probably LtCdr Maximilian G. Schmidt’s (USNA ’32) USS S-32 (SS-137) that claimed to hit a 6,000-tons (sic) AK anchored at 50-01N, 156-00E. “Target seen afire and settled”.
[3] Japanese sources conflict on this entry. Our data are from Japanese author Komamiya.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan.
Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
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